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There are many glaringly obvious reasons why this Masters has already become the Tiger Masters even before a tee shot has been struck.

1) Even by Woods' standards, it is a truly remarkable comeback just to be able to take part in his 88th Major.

2) He is the greatest male golfer of all time.

3) He is one of the greatest sportsmen or sportswomen of all time.

4) He is a flawed genius and we all love a flawed genius.

But perhaps most striking of all …

5) There has been no-one who has stepped up to fill the global icon-shaped void left by his absences.

The sport of professional golf - and its participants at the elite level - might well be in extremely rude health but when Tiger is not around, where is the poster athlete? The billboard hero?

Where is the golfer who could possibly rival Tiger for airtime, column inches and bar-room debate? In 2014, we thought we had one, nailed on.

Rory McIlroy, already a two-time Major winner and only just turning 25, finished eighth at Augusta, 23rd in the US Open at Pinehurst, won The Open at Royal Liverpool and followed it up with victory at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in